The ‘7th Man’ got their praise tenfold from the North Bay Battalion.
With the support shown by fans throughout the Troops’ first season, it was only fitting a Sunday afternoon was dedicated to thanking everyone for a run beyond expectations.
“For people to give up their Mother’s Day, it’s a busy day for everybody and for them to come here and support our team, I think is just phenomenal,” said head coach and Director of Operations Stan Butler.
“I said from Day 1, we’ve got the best fans in the Ontario Hockey League,” he continued, “All North Bay showed this year why hockey should have never left North Bay.”
The Troops played two 25-minute exhibition games with the North Bay North Stars special needs hockey team.
Butler adds it’s a connection he would like to see continue.
“I have a special needs daughter that plays for the Durham Dragons hockey team, they play against the North Stars. I think Sharon runs a great program there...We want to get more involved and support what they’re doing and today just to see those kids, how happy they were to have that experience, put a huge smile on my face.”
Goaltender Jake Smith says it was great and knows all the players had fun with it.
“I know the kids out there for the North Stars had an awesome time, they were looking forward to it as soon as they got the news,” he said, “I know being billeted with Nick, he’s on the North Stars, it’s something they look forward to. They all look up to us so I think it was a really great thing for us to do.”
*REFLECTING*
The Guelph Storm ended their season on Friday night, thanks to a 4-3 win in Game 5 of the OHL Championship. Now that he’s had a couple days to reflect, Butler says he’s proud of the players.
“You’re in a league with 20 teams and to get to the OHL Finals is an accomplishment in itself,” he said, “I think as a group, were a little bit disappointed, we thought we played well enough in the final that we could’ve won but Guelph’s a great team and you have to give them credit, they scored when they needed to score.”
Despite the result, Smith says it was a special season for everyone involved and the support is something he’ll take with him forever.
“We all developed something that is hard to get to and hard to accomplish so we’re all going to enjoy it,” he said, “We’re all going to embrace what’s going on now so hopefully we come back to North Bay and kind of do the same thing next year.”
For captain Barclay Goodrow, it marks the end of his OHL career. He says it was an awesome way to end it.
The San Jose Sharks prospect adds the crowd gave them a big boost in their step and couldn’t be more thankful for the treatment he received on and off the ice all year.
“When things aren’t going the way you want in the game,” he recalls, “When you hear the crowd behind you and you hear the people chanting ‘Go Troops Go’ and stuff like that, it’s something special and definitely gets the blood going.”
For now, Goodrow says he’s looking forward to fighting for a roster spot on the West Coast.
“I’m headed to the Sharks camp, which I’ll do my best to fight for a job on that team,” he says, “If not, I’ll go to Worchester which is their American Hockey League team and hopefully keep developing there and become an even better player.”
Keeping in North Bay, Butler says they have a lot of guys returning next year but some key guys leaving as well. He adds the experience of this playoff run will pay dividends.
“I think we’re going to have a really good team next year,” he said, “I think with the experience of going to the finals and stuff like that, I think that will allow us to be a really good team next year.”
One thing is for sure, one year in and North Bay has shown their reputation as a hockey town.
“I love it, I bought a house here, signed a five-year contract,” Butler said, “I tell players that want to play here, it’s like playing hockey in Muskoka. Two lakes, ski hill, great people, I think it’s time for the people of North Bay to stop looking the other way and start realizing what a great city it is to live in.”
“It’s a great place to play hockey and live,” added Goodrow, “Before the season, I didn’t know much about it but it’s been a great year. I’ve met a lot of people throughout the North Bay community and they’ve been nothing but good to us. I have nothing but unbelievable things to say about North Bay and the Battalion organization.”
